Projectile



De@ 18, 1945- P. H. FIELD 2,391,303

PROJECTILE Fild Oct. 22, 1941 Sheets-Sheet 1 Suez/Man 2 Sheets-Sheet 2P, H. FIELD PROJECTILE Filed 001'.. 22, 1941 ffy' ff Dec. 18, 1945.

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Patented Dec. 18, 1945 PROJECTILE Patrick Hamilton Field, Washington, D.C., as-

signor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one per cent to Stanley F.Clark, West New Brighton, N. Y., and ninety-nine per cent to MargaretKinsler Liebert, Washington, D. C.

Application October 22, 1941, SerialwNo. 416,116`

1 Claim.

'Ihis invention relates to projectiles, and has for the primary objectthe provision of an explosive projectile of the 50 caliber size,presenting great destructive power from the comparatively small amountof explosive contained therein, especially adapting its use to automaticguns on the 50 caliber craft, and is extremely convenient to handle withsafety, further adapting itself to the use as above specified.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a safe firing meansfor the explosive within the projectile which will only operate onimpact of the projectile with a target, bringing about explosion of theprojectile during actual contact with the target so that damage theretowill be sufficient to substantially destroy the target, consequentlyadapting itself admirably for the destruction of armament which is of aselfsealing character commonly employed in the manufacture of fueltanks, cars and other equipment of war airplanes and other warmechanized devices.

With these and other objects in View, as will become moreapparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a projectile constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1;

Figure 4 is an end elevation illustrating a detonator carrying plug; Y

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating a closure plug forming thebutt end of the projectile;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a portion of ahammer supporting sleeve with the hammer disclosed in dotted line;

Figure '7 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of myinvention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end elevation showing the front or nose end of theprojectile;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 ofFigure 8; n

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating a firing pin.

Referring in detail to the drawings,` the numeral 5 indicates the bodyof the projectile provided with the usual pointed front or forward end Aand the butt or rear end B. The butt or rear end is in the form of aiianged closure plug 6 employed for closing a bore arrangedlongitudinally of the body. The plug B threads into the body. A slighttaper or reduction in the diameter of the body is provided at the buttend to facilitate the application of a shell to the projectile body.

The bore extends into the forward end portion of the body and is reducedin diameter to form an explosive chamber 1. Tenthrite explosive isarranged in the chamber 'l and held therein by a packing disc 8 aordedor provided with an opening 9. The major portion of the bore of the body5 is screw threaded and a detonator carrying plug I0 is threaded in thebore against the packing. The plug I0 is provided with a bore IIextending axially thereof in which is mounted a detonator I2.

A hammer carrying sleeve I3 is threaded in the bore against the plug I0and is abutted by the closure plug 6. The plug I0 and sleeve l3 areprovided with wrench sockets I4 adapted for the reception of a Spannertype wrench.

The sleeve I3 in its end which abuts the plug 6 is provided with notchesI5 to receive pins I6 of a hammer I1 slidable in the sleeve I3. The pinsI6 are fragile and normally sustain the hammer against sliding movementin the sleeve in the direction of the detonator. However, when theprojectile strikes a target the impact shears the pins I6 so that thehammer may slide and l strike the detonator with considerable forcebringing about ignition of the explosive, the explosion of whichshatters the body 5 so as to bring about substantially completedestruction of the target. The target thus destroyed if of theself-sealing armor type will be rendered incapable of its selfsealingaction thereby admirably adapting the projectile for the destruction ofimportant units of military mechanized devices which are frequentlyconstructed of armament if' only punctured will become self-sealed.Therefore, it will be seen that this projectile will be especiallyuseful in defense against airplanes, tanks and other military mechanizeddevices.

Referring to my modified form ofthe invention, the body of theprojectile is indicated by the character 5' and its shape is inaccordance with the shape of the body 5, and also includes the buttclosure plug Il for sealing the open end of the bore of the body. Thebore of the body has portions thereof screw threaded and one portionunthreaded for the reception of the explosive I8. Packing discsy l 9 arearranged at each end of the explosive within the bore. A detonatorcarrying pl-ug 20 is rst threaded into the bore before placingtheaexplosive in the space of the .iaore provided there'r. plugr 2'0carrlegsthe detonator 2| operated by a ring pin 22 projecting a limiteddistance beyond the nose or frontV y end of the body I6. The firing pin22 is frictionally engaged with the Wall of a complemental axial openingwhich latter extends from `the pointed end of theprojectilebolytothe"boreof the p1ug20. The other screwYthreazleilportion of the bore is closed by aneelongated externallyscrew threaded plug 23 arrangedliniabuttingbefn` f would ignite gaseous`fuel so that if the projectile strikes a fuel tank it Will be set on reburning up any parts of the target which should not be destrayed by theexplosion.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodimentofmyinvention,.it will beainderstood that fminor-uchan'ges in: construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

.In aprojectile, a metallic body having a bore a portion of whichprovides an explosive chamlberfanexplosiveiin-said chamber, a plugthreaded in the boreand-carrying a detonator located ad- .faceribtheexplosive, a sleeve threaded in the bore against the plug, a hammerslidable in the sleeve `for'actuatirugithedetonator by impact of thebody against a target, fragile means normally sustaining the hammeragainst movement in the sleeve and shearableby 'said `impact, and-aclosurep'lug threaded 'in the "bore against :the sleeve 'and'.providing4a butt end 'toesaid body.

PATRICK HAMILTON "FIEID.

